The worst European floods in a long time have caused utter destruction in the countries of Germany and Belgium with the death toll range already crossing a mark of 120 to 125. The devastating flood is the result of incessant rain in Western Europe which caused the rivers to have burst their banks.
Professor Hannah Cloke, a hydrologist and an advisor of the European Flood Awareness System – an EU program established with the aim of sending warning signals of dangerous floods, said that warnings were sent to authorities in Europe earlier this week.
However, even after that the result of such devastations only shows “a monumental failure of the system,” she said to Politico.
Germany has accounted for more than 100 deaths till now while Belgium also has seen at least a death toll of 20 people or more said another report of BBC.
The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland are also some of the other affected areas.
The German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his shock at the impactful flood situation and said he is himself stunted by the devastation caused. Moreover, he expressed his solidarity and promised help to the families of the deceased and to the cities and towns which are in ruins.
“In the hour of need, our country stands together. It’s important that we show solidarity for those from whom the flood has taken everything,” Steinmeier said on Friday afternoon.
In the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, authorities said 63 people had died there which also includes a care home for disabled people with 12 residents in the town of Sinzig. All of them were startled by a sudden rush of water from the nearby Ahr River wrote Jon Henley in The Guardian.
Moreover, the report added that in the neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia state, officials recorded a death toll of 43 but warned that the number could be much more and rise soon.
About 1,300 people in the Ahrweiler district of Rhineland-Palatinate are still to be discovered. Though efforts are being made to discover the lost people the unmitigated conditions have destructed the phone lines making it impossible to reach people.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo declared 20 July a national day of mourning added BBC in its report.
“We are still waiting for the final toll, but this could be the most catastrophic flooding our country has ever seen,” he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with U.S. President Joe Biden and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz to discuss federal assistance for the victims.
“I am shocked by the reports that are reaching me from the places that are now completely underwater, I mourn for those who have lost their lives in this catastrophe.
We don’t know the number yet, but there will be many…You can rely on the fact that our state, at the federal, regional, and communal levels, will do all it can to save lives, avert dangers and alleviate suffering in the most difficult conditions.” Merkel said.
Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands though have not seen any fatalities but have been severely affected. Flash floods have rushed in the villages of Schleitheim and Begginge and several towns have been evacuated in Grand Duchy and thousands have been asked to vacate from the southern Dutch city of Maastricht.
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